Cable tab cutter



July 7, 1970 w. F. GRANT 3,518,757

CABLE TAB CUTTER Filed Dec. 12, 1967 In I: III & N\\" INVENTOR l i q WALTER F GRANT United States Patent U.S. Cl. 3091.1 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention consists of a tubular body having a cavity in one end thereof in which is placed spare cutting members or other parts of this invention; and a cutting anvil that is Z-shaped when viewed from the side, one end of the cutting anvil being adapted to be screwed into one end of the aforesaid tubular body; and a second Z-shaped member which has one end formed into a pressure handle and the other end terminating in a holder in which the cutting member is removably secured. The second Z- shaped member has its center portion passing through an opening in the aforesaid tubular body to which it is swingably secured by means of a threaded pin having a head on one end thereof.

This invention relates to cutters, more particularly, to a cutter adapted to cut the tab of an electric cable.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a cable tab cutter of the character herein described that will quickly and efficiently cut the tab of any electric cable with a minimum of manual effort.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cable tab cutter having a minimum number of parts, all of which can be easily removed from the cutter for repair or replacement when necessary.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cable tab cutter that can be used for cutting the tab of any electric cable. The cutting member can be removed for resharpening whenever necessary.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will no doubt come to light as the reading of this specification and its appended claims proceeds and the accompanying drawing is examined.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of this invention ready for use.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the front portion of this invention in actual use. The cable and tab are shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of this invention, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a top view of that portion of this invention indicated by the arrowed lines and the numeral 44.

In several views of the drawing, like parts are indicated by like reference numerals.

The reference numeral 7 indicates this invention in its entirety.

The invention consists of a basically Z-shaped member 8 having a handle 9 whose lower edge 10 is configurated to receive the fingers of the operators hand. One end 11 of the aforesaid member 8 is provided with a socket in which is placed the upper end of the cutter 13 that is secured in the socket by the screw 12. The cutter has a side configuration of a bullet. The Z-shaped member 8 is swingably held in place in one end of the body 14 which is provided with an elongated opening 15 through which the member 8 passes and is secured by the headed threaded pin or screw 16. One end of the aforesaid body 14 is provided with an elongated cavity 17 in which is placed spare cutting members or any other desired small parts of this invention. These are kept from falling out of the cavity by means of the knurled plug 18 which can either be screwed into the end of the body 14 or secured in the same by any other desired means. The other end 19 of the aforesaid body 14 is provided with an internally threaded recess 20 in which is screwed one end of the Z-shaped cutting anvil 21 whose free end is not only rounded but whose upper surface 22 is provided with an elongated depression 23 adapted to receive the cutting end of the aforesaid cutter 13. The cutting anvil is designed so that its elongated depression 23 will prevent the cutter 13 from running off course. The cutting anvil can be inserted into the sheath of the electric cable in such a manner that the electric conducting wires cannot be damaged. The aforesaid anvil 21 is not only screwed into the end 19 of the body 14 but is additionally secured by means of the set screw 24. It should be noted at this time that both the aforesaid handle 9 and the main portion of the body 14 should be insulated by some desirable means against a possible electric shock should this invention ever come in contact with a live electric wire. The insulation on the often mentioned body 14 should extend rearward from the previously mentioned elongated recess 15 in the body 14 to the aforesaid knurled plug 18.

The way in which this new and novel cable tab cutter is used will be fully understood by those experienced in the art upon examination of the accompanying drawing. Even those not experienced in the art will understand and comprehend the use of this tool upon examination of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the drawing where in the last mentioned figure the cable is shown in phantom lines.

From the foregoing, it is seen that I have herein pro vided a cable tab cutter that fully meets all of the previously stated objects of this invention.

This invention is subject to any and all detail changes and/or modifications one may care to make in the same in so long as the changes and/ or modifications fall within the scope and intent of the appended claims.

What I now claim as new is:

1. A cable tab cutter comprising a body having a forward end and a rearward end and to which is swingable secured a handle member having the forward end thereof fitted with a cutter, said cutter having a cutting edge substantially co-planar with said handle member, said cutting edge facing said rearward end of said body and terminating downwardly in a penetrating tip, the said body also being provided with a forwardly extending relatively flat, thin anvil having an opening in its upper surface to receive the tip of said cutting edge.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the said handle member is Z-shaped and the center portion of the said handle member passes through an elongated opening in one end of the said body to which the said handle member is swingably secured.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the said anvil is Z-shaped in side configuration and is provided with an externally threaded end that is screwed into an internally threaded recess that is located in one end of the said body to which the said anvil is additionally secured by means of a set screw.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the said body is provided with an elongated cavity, in which spare cutters are placed, the cavity being closed by a knurled plug located in one end of the said body.

5. A cable tab cutter comprising a body to which is swingably secured a member having the underside of one end contoured to ones hand and the other end fitted with a removable cutter, the said body also being provided with a removable anvil whose upper surface is adapted to receive the tip of the said cutter, the said member is Z- shaped and the center portion of the said member passes through an elongated opening in one end of the said body to which the said member is secured by a headed threaded pin or screw, the said anvil is Z-shaped in side configuration and is provided with an externally threaded end that is screwed into an internally threaded recess that is located in one end of the said body to which the said anvil is additionally secured by means of a set screw, the said body is provided with an elongated cavity in which spare cutters are placed, the cavity being closed by a knurled plug located in one end of the said body, the said anvil is not only Z-shaped, when viewed from the side, but is pro vided with a flat upper surface having a rounded outer end, the said flat upper surface containing an elongated depression therein adapted to receive the pointed end of the said cutter when this said invention is being used.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner I. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

